🎙️ Is Your Child Really Hearing? The Hidden Difference Between Hearing, Listening & Processing Sounds

When we think about hearing difficulties, we often assume it's simply a question of whether a child can hear or not.

But what if the real challenge is something much more complex?

In this episode of RECAP The Podcast, I'm joined by Dr Josephine Marriage, Clinical Scientist in Paediatric Audiology and Director of CHEAR, to explore how children develop hearing and listening skills, why some difficulties can be missed, and what every parent should know about supporting communication in the early years.

From hearing assessments and auditory processing to sensory sensitivities and screen time, this conversation offers a fascinating insight into how children experience sound and why hearing is about far more than just the ears.

💡 In this episode, we discuss:

✨ The difference between hearing, listening, and auditory processing

✨ Why some children struggle even when hearing tests appear normal

✨ How hearing difficulties can affect speech, language, learning, and behaviour

✨ The impact of fluctuating hearing conditions such as glue ear

✨ Why the first two years of life are so important for developing listening skills

✨ What behavioural hearing assessments involve and how they differ from routine hearing tests

✨ Sensory processing differences, hyperacusis, and sound sensitivities

✨ The rise in children presenting with listening difficulties and the role screen time may play

✨ Hearing aids, cochlear implants, and advances in paediatric audiology

✨ How parents can feel empowered to ask questions and advocate for their child

❤️ Why this matters

Communication begins long before children learn to speak.

The sounds children hear, the conversations they experience, and the interactions they have in their earliest years help shape the neural pathways that support language, learning, and social connection.

Understanding the difference between hearing and listening can help families recognise when a child may need support, seek help earlier, and better understand the unique ways children process the world around them.

Whether you're a parent, educator, healthcare professional, or simply interested in child development, this episode offers valuable insights into a topic that affects every child's learning journey.

🎧 Listen now - available on:

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All major podcast platforms

👉 Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

🔗 Connect & follow

Follow RECAP for evidence-informed, accessible content for families and professionals:

Instagram: @recap.ltdWebsite: https://www.recapinfo.co.uk/Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/recapinfo/newsletter

Follow Dr Josephine Marriage and CHEAR:

Website: https://www.chears.co.uk/Josephine's paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2260097

💬 Join the conversation

👉 Did you know hearing and listening are different skills?

👉 Have you ever navigated hearing assessments with your child?

👉 What do you wish more parents understood about children's communication development?

Share your experiences in the comments - we'd love to hear from you.

🔍 Keywords:

child hearing difficulties, auditory processing disorder, hearing and listening, paediatric audiology, speech delay, glue ear, sensory processing, hyperacusis, hearing assessments, child development, speech and language development, autism and hearing, screen time and child development, parenting podcast UK, education podcast

🔖 Hashtags:

#PaediatricAudiology #ChildDevelopment #SpeechAndLanguage #AuditoryProcessing #GlueEar #SensoryProcessing #ParentingPodcast #EducationPodcast #AutismAwareness #RECAPThePodcast

Series 6 Ep 7